Bomb



SePf- 15 1942 D. B. MccLouD 'ETAL l2,295,671

BOMB

Filed May 9, 1939 ff f/ t nrw-LE 5 Patented Sept. 15, 1942 BOMB Don B. McCloud, Carbondale, Ill., 'George A. Lewis, New Dorp, N. Y., and Christian G. Storm, Arlington, Va., assignors to the Government of the United States of America, as

C represented by the Secretary of War Application May 9, 1939, Serial No. 272,568

Y (C1. 1oz- 2) 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a bomb and more particularly to a bomb of the type adapted to be charged with a liquid oxygen explosive. The disclosure hereinafter made relates to a demolition or fragmentation bomb so constructed as to be conveniently attached to and launched from aircraft, but it is not to be construed as limited to an aerial drop bomb, as tne features of the invention are generally applicable in any type bomb employing a liquid oxygen explosive agent.

Liquid oxygen in combination with a combustible absorbent agent has long been recognized as an efcient high explosive in the mining and similar industries and its use has been proposed for military purposes heretofore.

There are, however, several obstacles in the convenient and safe use of liquid oxygen explosive and these are coupled with the inherent characteristic of liquid oxygen, namely; to rapidly evaporate when subjected to a temperature above its boiling point of -182 degrees centigrade and its tendency or ability of being easily detonated when incorporated with a combustible ingredient and brought into contact with a. ferrous metal container. These obstacles present a serious problem in connection with the employment of liquid oxygen explosive as the explosive charge in a demolition bomb as they place` limitations upon the use of the explosive, that is, limitations upon the time within which the bomb must be used after being charged with the liquid oxygen explosive and manner in handling, which are in direct conflict with military requirements, and it is, therefore, an object cf this invention to provide a bomb so constructed as to in a large measure overcome these obstacles.

It is a further object of this invention to prolong the eiiicient life of a liquid oxygen explosive charge in a demolition bomb by reducing evaporation of the liquid oxygen to a minimum through the use of an eiective heat insulant-so arranged as to substantially completely enclose the explosive charge.

It is another object of the invention to so arrange the steel or other ferrous alloy bomb body so that the explosive charge will be secured in spaced relation from the bomb body by the insulating medium to reduce thermal short circuits to a minimum.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a bomb structure adapted to be charged with liquid oxygen explosive and so constructed that the bomb may be wholly assembled including all elements of the explosive mixture, except may be conveniently Iand safely armed by addition of the liquid oxygen at a charging station located at any desirable place.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a bomb structure adapted to be charged with liquid oxygen explosive that lends itself to ready production through the utilization of commercially available prepared cartridges such as Shown in U. S. Patent Nos. l,863,921-2,074,553 and Re. 19,410 and at present employed in a blasting 'explosive identified as AirmiteJ The Yspecific nature of the invention as Well as other objects and advantages thereof will clearly appear from a description of a preferred embodiment as shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is a longitudinal sectional view of a bomb embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-section taken on of Fig. 1, y

Fig. 3 is a. longitudinal sectional View of a bomb embodying a modificationl of the invention, and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view partially insection showing a modified form of vent for the liquid oxygen explosive container. f

Referring now to the drawing by numerals o! reference and wherein the same numeral refers to the same element throughout the views-there is shown in the form of the invention of Figs. 1 and 2 a bomb of the aerial drop type having an outer conventional casing vIll made of steel or other suitable ferrous alloy and comprising the the` une 2 2 p generally cylindrical casing body Il and nose I2 the liquid oxygen, and so arranged that the bomb secured thereto in any suitable manner, such as by Welding.

The casing I0 may be made of such size and thickness or Weight as the service of a particular bomb requires and is provided within its nose I2 with an inwardly extending axially arranged tubular protuberance I3 flanged at its terminal I-I for a purpose to be hereinafter more particularly set forth.

The nose I2 is packed with a, material I5 of low thermal conductivity, such as mineral wool, which is retained therein by means of an annular or suitable segmental spacer I6 also of low thermal conductivity in cooperation with the liquid oxygen explosive container 2| hereinafter described. superimposed upon the spacer I6l is a prefabricated and preferably lightweight sheet I1 of low thermal conducting substance of suitable thlckness and mechanical strength This material may be obtained commercially in sheets and cut to desired size. Insulation oi the type made from the hulls of certain tropical nuts and Allliosity- 2l bottom 23 of container 2| or creating any perforated crease the cartridges as facilitate assembly cated at I8v separated by interposed spacers I9 of the same general type as spacer IB. To fur: ther expedite support of the liquid oxygen explosive container 2| a spacer 1.2Ilrmay vbe super-A o imposed upon the deck I3 inproximity-of the `and closure 30.]`

end of the bomb casing remotevfrom' the nose-J2.

A liquid oxygen explosive container 2`| of nonferrous substance, such as copper and preferably having a body portion 22 oft cylindricalnshape joinedrto an outwardly dished bottom `portion 23 provided with an inwardly directed central `gib, of general i. truncated conical form is employedto corinne the explosive mixture within the bomb casing and is of y suchdiameter` as to bracingly engaged relation bythe spacers f|5,' I9,A

i V andof such :length esto :be axially -supported atv oneend by tubular protuberance |13, ,through interengagement of the flange Il and' truncation 'by the spacers` 35 interposedlbetwe'en the closure z5 and adjacent end of the cartridge deck as.

Bulk material 36 of low thermal conductivity, e

which may be the same as material I5, is packed lbetween spacer 20, closure 25 and closure 3l! to substantially complete thermal isolation of the containerfZI with `respect to the bomb casing I0 :lynlthoughwe are relied'fupon tofdetonate some liquid oxygen explosive mixtures we prefer to employ a fuse "generally indicated at 31, located in the nose I2 offthe bomb casing and provided with a de- Y tonating train of conventional construction ledingthrough theA tubular protrusion I 3to the explosive* mixture in container 2| asjindicated j of *the'impact or delay type orya combination of' the -two of any conventional construction.

of gibbosity 2l,v and extends. slight distancebey yond spacer `2li at its opposite endr. If desiredl the we prefer to employ a dished bottom of the type above described and shown in Fig, 1 as by such thermal short circultsf The conmay Abe made flat. but

the thermal insulationsurrounding the container tainer 2| is provided with a flanged or other suitable closure 2510i 'non-ferrous substancev aper- "tured'centrally at 26 and adjacent its periphery at1 21 to vprovide orthe outward extension of a or pipe 29, respectively. n For convenience ,in assembling the` nlling and vent tubes may be sef' cured to the closure 25 in any appropriate manner.'. v l

"The bomb casing lIII is closed aclofsure 30 adapted to besecured-tothe bombcasingin any to'form passages -in alignment with the apertures secured thereto a conventional stabilizing fin asi semblyl3| with-.provision madeorthe promision of the :ruling tube 2a therethrough@ a A point adjacent its. trailing fterminalx-zforfacility vi'niillingthe container-2|. [1,: 'f -Container `2|is charged withabsorbent'` carlzrona'ceous material'packed in cartridges afterj the manner generally disclosed `in U. S. Patent Re( 19,410iabove referred to. yTo,facilitateinsertion disposed in a plurality of decks, 3s and ,idslightly spaced relation bothfbetween decks and the inditube or vpipe 25 and Vventtube I j Inassembling thev bomb-structuren! our invention we first extend `the (filling pipe 2,5into theconta'inerl vaxiallythereot and in engagement withA the` bottom- 23;4 'I'he `nrst `deck of cartridges 433 v'are -then yarranged 'around the filling Vpipe and succeeding deckssimilarly arranged untilthe container is iilled;V The'height of the-cartridge assembly withrespect` tothe containervZI j is so chosen that a `ventspace 39 will belprovi'ded between zthe cover 25 and top "deck,V "of cartridges" within; which evaporated oxygen Amay accumulate.` The spacers 35 are then inserted and the cover 25 positioned on vcontainer 2| with the filling vtube 23 protruding throughaperture 26fand-secured to' the containerbyanyl appropriate means such as solderjing. 'I'he vent-29 is next secured to cover 25 in such manner asv1 to establish i communication vbetween atmosphere and Athe vent space 39 Adesired manner, as by welding,land .is apertured y 26 and 21 for the outwardprotrusionoithe filling l "and vent tubes,y respectively. The Iclosure 3|) has y next inserted in the-"bomb casing after which the 4through aperture 21'and the gap's between spacers 3 5 andis soldered or otherwise suitably secured to the cover 25 in this position.` The lling ,tube` V21| is then raised 'to its operauveposmon and sejcured to cover 25 to" complete 'assembly `cui this funit ofthe bomb. i

Thej bomb casing III is now placed in a. vertical .fposiltionand thenose'IZ packed'with material I5 'to an appropriate depth." The first spacer I 5 is v container 2 I charged :with its Vcarbonaceous cartridges: and pr'o'd'videdy with 'the'VA spacers 35,

closure 2,5, illlilgtubesf or 4I anduvent tubes n 12s en asggisjg'nwered 11ndthermalim` to be o embraced'wbythe spacer I6 andsupportingly u engagedon member-f' IILII, Thereafter, in or- 00: .v

positioned within the spacebetween the bomb body derthe 'decksoffins'ulantll and/spacers I5 are and container 2ly until thisspace is illled and .thenvv spacer 20 iii-superimposed uponv the top deca ls'ffmsuiahn; rmsulaungflmaterm u 1s vidual cartridges icomprisingdecksy lThis exf pediet reduces thetimeA ofsubsequently saturat ing thecarbonace'ous.

agreater area of the cartridges is V absorbentmaterlal in the 'presented tounobstructed penetration by.' the liq`lv uid oxygen when added. The cartridges o! the' i' lowermost deck 33 are supported at their outer 7ov n n brazing or othersuitable means; `fThe bomb is ynow ready tdbe'armed with the mseand satnowpackedabove the'spacer-MI andftop of conl bombbodyu lIffdesiled 'the 3111118 tube 2l and vent fpipe l25 may be `securedto the coverlll as by ur'ated lwith'f liquid oxygenand may besafely stored in this state oiassembly until required for use at which time it may be armed and saturated.

aware that impact may be When the bomb is saturated such operation y should be performed in the vertical position of the bomb by introducing the liquid owgen through the filling tube 28. Upon initial introduction of the liquid oxygen there is considerable evaporation due to the absorption of heat from the container 2| and the nlling must be slowly accomplished, however, as the temperature gradient between the liquid oxygen and container 2| decreases the rate of nlling may be increased. 'Ihe liquid oxygen goes throughv the perforations in the tube 28 and is absorbed by the cartridges with surplus liquid collecting in the reservoir in the nose of the container 2| and between the cartridges to prolong the effective life of the bomb by replacing the liquid evaporated. After the container 2| is completely nlled a cap 40 is secured on the end of the nlling pipe and evaporated oxygen Will collect in the vent space 39 and discharge to atmosphere through vent tube 29 to eliminate building up a pressure in the bomb. The vent tube may be curved as shown in Fig. 1 so that liquid cannot escape in the horizontal position of the bomb. It desired or necessary the bomb may be nlled with liquid oxygen in the horizontal position by connecting an elbow on the nlling pipe 28.

The life of a bomb built in accordance with the disclosure is very materially increased and if not used before the expiration o1' its efiicient life may be revived by the introduction of additional liquid oxygen to replace that lost through evaporation.

In the modincation of the invention shown in Fig. 3 elements corresponding to similar elements of the invention as shown in Fig. 1 have been identined by like numerals. 'I'he bomb of this form of the invention is intended to be of much smaller capacity and therefore the container 2|' is provided with a nat -bottom 23' in as much as the additional capacity obtained by the dished bottom is not sunicient to justify its use. Also We have consolidated the nlling tube and vent tube into a unitary structure as indicated at 4|. The tube 4| is constructed of such diameter that the container 2|' may be nlled therethrough while at the same time providing for the escape of evaporated oxygen. The nlling tube closure 42 is pierced by the vent tube 43 which leads from the vent space 39.

The cartridges are in this case circular in section and packed in general accordance with the U. S. reissue patent above referred to. The container 2|', depending upon its length may be charged with one or more cartridges, but in this regard we have discovered that it is dinicult to pack the cartridges with Airmite lampblack and obtain uniformity of packing ln lengths greatly in excess of 24 inches.

In those cases where a vent tube of the type heretofore described and shown in Figs. 1 and 3 at 29 has an undesired siphoning eiIect on the oxygen in the vent space 39 it is proposed to use the modified form of vent shown in Fig. 4. In this form of the invention the vent 29.' is formed to extend without the area of reduced pressure that exists at the trailing end of the bomb in night and is provided with a funnel shaped mouth 29" facing in the direction of night. By this means the siphoning effect on the oxygen accumulated in the vent space 39 by reason of having the mouth of the vent tube terminate in the area of reduced pressure at the trailing end of the bomb in night is not only eliminated but actually effects building a pressure up in the vent space 39 in excess oi' atmospheric pressure with consequent reduction in the vaporization rate of the liquid oxygen due toits corresponding change in boiling temperature. It the bomb is of such capacity as to require a vent 29 and funnel 29" of a size that disturbs the balance of the bomb in night then a plurality of vents and tunnels may be employed and symmetrically located so as to avoid disturbance of the balance of the bomb in night.

Having now described what we at present regard as a preferred embodiment of our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a liquid oxygen explosive bomb comprising in combination, an outer casing, an inner liquid gaseous explosive container disposed within the outer casing in spaced relation therefrom, nlling means providing communication between the interior of the container and atmosphere and vent means communicating with the rear end portion of the container and atmosphere extending laterally without the space occupied by the outer casing and formed to present its exit communicating with atmosphere facing in the direction of the normal forward end portion of the bomb.

2. In a liquid oxygen explosive bomb in combination, an elongated outer casing, an elongated container having imperforate side walls disposed in the casing with its side walls-in spaced relation therefrom, a nlling tube communicating with atmosphere extending interiorly a substantial length of the container axially thereof and being perforated within said container, a closure for said nlling tube, and vent means forming e. vent passage leading from the interior of the container to atmosphere, and a nn assembly on the trailing end of said bomb, said nlling tube extending axially through said nn assembly and being supported thereby.

DON B. MCCLOUD. GEORGE A. LEWIS. CHRISTIAN G. STORM. 

